The Pennsylvania Supreme Court has ruled that two Bucks County school districts went too far when they reduced the amount of money they pay tax collectors, who are elected.

The collectors appealed a 2010 Commonwealth Court ruling that said the Pennridge and Central Bucks School Boards acted properly a year earlier in cutting their pay.

At the time a judge said school boards have very broad discretion in setting tax collector compensation, and their actions were well thought out and not arbitrary or capricious.

Now the state’s highest court has reversed the lower court ruling, saying it is sympathetic to the financial challenges school boards face, but they cannot cut compensation to the point where tax collectors can no longer perform their duties.